|
|
|
:: Hot Topics |
Career
Research Required
Before Moving to Canada
By Sandra Lim
Ice hockey. Maple syrup. The Yukon. If you're thinking about moving to Canada, you'll be in good company. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people from across the globe migrate there, creating one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. But before you start waxing the toboggan, you should figure out if you're qualified to work in Canada-and if you're not, what you can do to become eligible.
If you're a non-Canadian job-seeker, start by having your qualifications and credentials assessed and evaluated for Canadian equivalency. This lets you and prospective employers see how your foreign qualifications compare to provincial standards. Since many foreigners' credentials aren't recognized in Canada, even the most skilled job candidates can end up unemployed or unable to work in their field of expertise.
Next, find out whether you need to be licensed or certified to practice your profession or trade in Canada, and if so, how to obtain these qualifications. Remember that many professions have quotas for foreign workers. For example, Canada strictly controls the licensing of its foreign-trained doctors and health professionals. In 2001, only 74 out of 1,718 physicians in first-year Canadian residency programs (less than five percent) were foreign medical graduates. In Ontario, only about 36 foreign doctors are accepted each year. Although Ontario's College of Physicians and Surgeons recently approved a proposal to streamline the licensing of fully-trained international doctors, it may be years before the plan takes full effect. Until then, many foreign medical graduates may end up driving taxis, flipping burgers, or working in doughnut shops because they can't get licensed.
Finally, keep in mind that both Canadian professional organizations and individual employers can evaluate foreign credentials. Self-governing Canadian trade associations regulate approximately 20 percent of the country's occupations. These organizations, established under provincial laws, set standards for practice, competence and ethics, and help protect the public from malpractice. If you're a foreign professional seeking work in a regulated Canadian industry, the appropriate provincial regulatory body will assess your credentials. This evaluation might include a review of your academic credentials and comparison to Canadian standards, an assessment of your knowledge and skills as they pertain to your specific occupation, and an evaluation of language proficiency. As a general rule, if your profession is non-regulated, assessment of your credentials is normally at the employer's discretion.
If you're seeking work in a regulated occupation, you'll need to obtain a license from a local Canadian regulatory body. Licensing requirements often call for education from a recognized school, Canadian work experience, and completion of a technical exam. In some professions, it is illegal to work or even use the title of the profession if you are not registered with the regulatory body. If you need more information about entry requirements for a specific Canadian province, contact the occupation-appropriate provincial licensing body.
Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials: www.cicic.ca
Number of Regulated Professions in Ontario: 40
Number of Regulated Trades in Ontario: 60
Examples of Regulated Professions:
accountants, architects, computer graphic designers, dentists, dental technologists,
dieticians, engineers, film and television production, lawyers, medical
laboratory technologists, medical radiation technologists, midwives, nurses,
occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians,
physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, teachers, veterinarians
About Sandra Lim
Sandra Lim is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW), the first Canadian to earn the Credentialed Career Master (CCM) designation,
and a Certified Electronic Career Coach (CECC). Through her company, A Better Impression, she provides clients with résumé and career counseling
services to help them create a better impression.
|
 |
|
|
|
